Size doesn't = domination. Now BSU is much more talented than Air Force, but you can't just look at height and weight to determine the outcome. They have a disciplined system that we're going to have trouble with at time.

I think it's ugly in the first half and we make adjustments and pull away in the 2nd half. I think it's a lot like the Northwestern game last year.

For their o-line. They cut block like crazy, which all academy teams do with smaller linemen. Seeing teams like Air Force and Navy have success against the likes of TCU recently (400 plus yards) and Ohio St. In 2009 (31-27) have me worried about our shoddy tackling D.

Maybe not as much on the OL, but it sure matters on the DL. Our OL will be able to push them all over the place and we'll run on them at will. We won't need to double anyone.

And they can cut block all they want, but that's only so effective. You end up with a pile of bodies on the line of scrimmage, which can be tough to run through. If they go around the outside, we'll have Ryan and Provacs to clean it up.

The triple option is designed so that linemen don't have to hold their blocks as long. So even there they're okay, plus Air Force's O-line is their most experienced unit and it's not like they're not used to running against a size disadvantage. Where Air Force always runs into trouble is when there's a penetrating d-lineman who can get into the rush lanes and fast linebackers make good reads. Based off of last night I'm not calling either of those a strength for the D. This is going to be a long day for M, I think Michigan wins, but it's not the comfortable blowout everyone expects, even if they play angry.

I thought our DL played pretty well last night, they were just playing against an NFL OL. And it's hard to tell much about our LBs for the same reason. Point is, AFA never throws, and we have good tacklers on our team. We won't have to tackle Lacy and Yeldon next week.

Our tackling is going to be fine. Last night the defense was a little overwhelmed with the physicalness and speed of Alabama and they became tentative and played slower and less aggressive than they otherwise would. They are not going to see that type of talent again until perhaps a bowl game.

Hell with an average weight of the o-line being only 260lbs our d-line should feel like they're pushing practice dummies around compared to the 300+ o-line for Bama!! Look to have a better defensive game this Saturday!

Utilizing the "Unofficial Two Deep" on this site, we're taller just about everywhere, and our front seven on defense outweighs their offensive front by over 300 pounds total. Further, our offensive line outweighs their front seven by over 100 pounds total. I think we can push them around a bit, yes.

Our biggest concern this week is an Alabama hangover. The coaches, as well as Denard and Kovacs, need to get in everyone's face and keep them motivated. I see one of two scenarios. Either:

We come out pissed off and revved up by the crowd, and take out all of our anger on Air Force, resulting in a bloodbath, or the guys come in deflated and still down on themselves after the Alabama game, and Air Force catches them off guard in an upset. Then you're 0-2 and really facing an uphill battle.

Wrong. Playing poorly against bad teams would be cause for concern. Last night we didn't exactly play poorly, we played a really good team. They were better than us. Remember the national championship game last year? We looked about as good as LSU did against Bama. Let's not go overboard here.

Exactly. We could've put up a couple more TD's had we had Fitz and hit a couple of those open long balls, which is more than I think a lot of teams will do against this 'bama team. We got beat, but I think we'll be just fine going forward so long as no major injuries happen.

Coming from Detroit Metro Airport, does anyone know the best route to the golf course on gameday to avoid traffic and construction detours? I hear there is construction on Main Street near the entrance to the golf course. Any feedback is greatly appreciated!

Besides the "don't drive on Gameday", just take 94 and get off at Main Street. The construction is the bridge on Stadium over State, but I'm pretty sure there's access to the Golf Course from the Main/Stadium Intersection

We drove to AAGO twice this week, normally a ten minute drive was about twenty-five minutes due to a lot of construction all over the town. Stadium is two lanes heading east from Main Street to AAGO and then one lane to the University golf course.

Traffic will be a worse shit storm than normal and the cops will be more prickly than usual.

Correct me if I'm wrong but don't they rely on surprise and not size? We should dominate them at the LOS, but the real issue is contain. That's something we didn't do well last night and hopefully it had more to do with the talent we faced than our actual abilities. However, I think we'll put up a lot of points with Toussant back in the mix.

You keep saying how they do well or OK against teams much bigger than them, but where's the evidence? Last year AFA got creamed by ND, TCU, Boise, SDSU and lost to Wyoming and Toledo. The best team they beat last year was...Navy?

Typically, AFA loses to team who have a big physical advantage on them, like us. Their option works against teams with only a slight size advantage. If it was so magical everyone would do it.

Every team except for the other academies is bigger than Air Force. I admit the defense will have a tough time, but this whole "Ermahgerd the defensive line will DERMINATE!" is a false expectation. The way Air Force runs the triple option mitigates the size disadvantage. Oh and as far as evidence, last year was a bad year in which the team didn't play to expectations but check previous years and wins over Notre Dame, Georgia Tech and close games against Tennessee and OU. Again, based off what I saw yesterday Michigan's defense looks vulnerable to Air Force's strengths and y'all shouldn't be shocked by a shootout.

Also the reasons everyone doesn't run the triple option are many, but for starters 1. It limits your gameplan(for example 3rd and long seems more problematic than in other offenses) 2. It requires total commitment to run it correctly. 3. There is a extremely low margin for error and consequences of errors are multiplied. Frankly running a triple option is an admission your offensive options are limited, but if run correctly it can be an effective weapon. Finally it's relatively easy to stop, but your linebackers have to hold the edge and aggressively make the right reads and your defensive line needs to penetrate to screw up the rush lanes. After last night I'm not convinced that's in M's wheelhouse right now and that makes them vulnerable no matter the size advantage.

Hoke will have the boys ready to play on Saturday. He won't let them dwell on this game too much and I expect to see them flying to the football on D. We can afford to sit Countess and Lewan if needed for a few weeks to heal-up.

I don't think that this loss is as demoralizing as, say, App St. That loss led to the Oregon St. loss the next week and pretty much trashed the season. I think Kovacs will have the D up with their heads on straight for next week.

Fitz watched last night's stinker on TV and must have realized he's not losing his starting job. He needs to be our leading rusher by the end of the 1st quarter next week, unless Denard happens to go apeshit early on Air Force.

I was just thinking this myself. This is the type of team that will hang around and frustrate an athletically superior opponent. Given we've been focusing on 'Bama all offseason and have a week to scout out a funky offense, it's likely they put up a few points in the first half and make it a game, before we clamp down and start to pull away in the 3rd/4th. I would much much rather have the UMASS matchup this week...

But weight is not a big deal for the offensive line. Like the old Minn. teams, where their O-line looked like a bunch of tightends, they do a ton of reach and cut blocking, essentially zone blocking, and getting to the next level. They are really just trying to get in the way of defenders so that the QB can make the best read for the situation.

We'll run the ball on them, but they will on us, too. Air Force led the nation in rushing yards per game last year. The triple option is just a tricky offense to defend. The difference in this game will be our ability to pass.

We should win but it will probably be by an ugly-looking score (like 38-28) and people will freak out about our run defense, unaware that AFA does that to everybody.

Do not expect this game to be a cakewalk. UMass the next week should be, but this one is not a gimme.